Related Articles

Crab apple (Malus spp.) trees grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. They are grown for their attractive spring flowers and produce small fruits, known as crab apples, after the flowering period. With the exception of some larger crab apple varieties, the fruits are rarely eaten and mostly ornamental. Some species can hold the fruit into winter, but the fruits from most crab apple trees eventually drop to the ground where they make an obstructive mess. Rather than leave them to rot on the ground, you can remove them to maintain a neatly manicured lawn.

1

Rake all the crab apples into a single pile with a broom rake, also known as a leaf rake, which features a wide rake head with closely spaced teeth that are flexible, so that you can more easily control the direction of the crab apples as you rake.

2

Scoop up the pile of crab apples with a large scoop shovel or a flat shovel. If you don't have a flat shovel or scoop shovel, you can flip the broom rake over and push the crab apples onto the rake head.

3

Place the crab apples in a wheelbarrow or bucket so you can move the fruit easily. You might need to rake the apples into a pile each time after picking up a shovel full of apples.

4

Pick up any remaining crab apples with your hands. When only a few crab apples remain on the ground, it is more practical to pick them up individually than to rake and scoop the fruit.

5

Dump the wheelbarrow or bucket of crab apples on a compost pile, or scatter them on the ground in an inconspicuous area for wild animals to eat. A clearing in the woods or along the edge of a wooded area is a welcoming spot to provide food for deer, squirrels and other animals. Alternatively, you can dispose of the crab apples with your weekly garbage.

Things You Will Need

Broom rake

Scoop shovel

Flat shovel

Wheelbarrow or bucket

Warning

Rotting crab apples left on the ground can attract yellow jacket wasps, so proceed with caution when removing crab apples. To reduce this danger, remove the crab apples soon after they drop from the tree before they rot severely.

About the Author

A former cake decorator and competitive horticulturist, Amelia Allonsy is most at home in the kitchen or with her hands in the dirt. She received her Bachelor's degree from West Virginia University. Her work has been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other websites.